THOUSANDS of workers across the country are set to strike this month.
Here’s what you need to know about the planned disruption to services this week.
AlamyA quiet Waterloo station as rail passengers are facing disruption.[/caption]
Which services are striking in October?
After months of strike disruption, further walkouts are planned in October across transport, including national rail, the London Underground, and the NHS.
Train strikes
Rail strikes are planned by Aslef union for Wednesday, October 4, when train drivers will walk out causing disruption to thousands of journeys across the country.
The union has also put in place overtime bans for drivers from Monday, October 2 to Friday, October 6, causing travel disturbance throughout the week.
The strikes by Aslef union members mean that fewer than half of trains will be running.
These national strikes are the latest in a bitter pay dispute, which began in June 2022.
Drivers will be on strike at 13 companies on October 4:
Avanti West CoastChiltern RailwaysCrossCountryEast Midlands RailwayGreater AngliaGreat Western RailwayHull TrainsLNERLondon OvergroundNorthern TrainsSoutheasternTransPennine ExpressWest Midlands Trains
ScotRail and Transport for Wales are not affected by the strike action.
London Underground strikes
The London Tube service will also be hit by strike action this week, as members of the RMT union are walking out on October 4 and October 6.
This means further disruption to passengers in the capital as the RMT union’s action will shut down underground service.
The RMT represents workers from different sectors, including station guards and staff, not just drivers.
Transport for London warns that Tube service on the days following the strikes will also be affected.
The DLR, Elizabeth Line, Overground and tram services will not be affected by the strikes, but will likely be much busier than usual.
UKHospitality estimates the hospitality sector has already lost £3.5 billion in sales due to ongoing rail strikes and is urging parties to find a resolution.
NHS strikes
Strike action will also hit the NHS this week, as British Medical Association (BMA) union consultants and junior doctors will walk out for 72 hours from 7am Monday, October 2 to 7am Thursday, October 5.
The strike is over an ongoing pay dispute where union bosses are seeking a 35% pay rise for junior doctors.
Radiographers who are members of the Society of Radiographers union will join the strike on Tuesday, October 3.
NHS England are warning that patients will be facing extreme disruption to healthcare services for the duration of the strike.
NHS England says routine care services will be brought to a “near standstill.”
But Christmas Day cover will be in place, so emergency care will still be provided.
This new round of NHS walkouts is announced after appointment cancellations due to the 11-month strike action have surpassed 1 million, according to NHS England.
A record 7.7 million people are now stuck on waiting lists for treatment in England.
Ministers say doctors’ strikes have derailed plans to cut the backlog, which stood at 6.8m a year ago.
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